62 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
Sept. 27th, 1884. 
WOODSTOCK, KILKENNY. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. LONDON SEED TRADE. 
The houses at Woodstock number nearly a score. 
Melons here are ■well-grown in frames or hot-beds, and 
none are more certain in bearing than Munro’s Little 
Heath. But this method cannot be regulated in 
regard to temperature with the same certainty as a 
specially heated Melon-house or pit, where the vines 
can be trained against the glass. In this way Mr. 
Gray, the gardener, had the fine variety, Blenheim 
Orange, which he considers one of the surest setters 
and finest scarlet-fleshed Melon in cultivation. In 
addition to this he grows here, too, a seedling he has 
raised from Little Heath, combining all the good 
qualities of both those named. The zonal Pelar¬ 
gonium-house was a brilliant sight, a regular stock 
being maintained for succession, so that nest Christmas 
it will be equally gay. The roof, too, was bright with 
the vigorous, almost perpetual blooming, Tacsonia 
Van Volsemi, an immense specimen covering a 
house nearly 100 ft. long. The collection of stove 
and greenhouse plants is of the usual description, 
with more of the usual health and cleanliness, the 
latter being interspersed between the conservatory, 
cool ferneries, and several other houses open to the 
public. The large conservatory looking out on the 
flower garden or rather one of the flower gardens, for 
there are several, is a very handsome structure exter¬ 
nally, with the arms of the family on coloured glass 
at the entrance. The shape is pyramidal and octa¬ 
gonal, nearly 20 ft. high, and contains some fine 
specimen Palms, Tree Ferns, Camellias, with Coleus, 
Begonias (foliage), Caladiums, Gloxinias, Abutilons, 
specimen Fuchsias, while among the creepers I give 
the preference to Hoya Carnosa. I was greatly 
puzzled at the door as to what gave the delicious 
scent that filled the whole structure. It was Magnolia 
fuscata. 
The Fruit Department, especially where tolerable 
success has been realized, is an object of special 
interest in such a year as we have passed through. 
Last year in Ireland we had a minimum of sunshine, 
and this seems synonymous with a minimum of fruit. 
On this principle there should be profusion next 
year. However, all were not blanks with Mr. Gray. 
I am now referring to out-door and wall-fruit unpro¬ 
tected. It has long since been given up expecting 
Peaches to succeed unprotected here, so a glass wall 
structure has been erected, open underneath to give 
perfect ventilation. Nectarines and Apricots are 
similarly treated. Here the finest and largest Peach 
is Vanguard, Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, and that 
hardiest and surest of bearers, Boyal George, coming 
next. Pitmaston Orange stands first among Nectarines, 
with a fairly good crop trained on curvilinear wrought 
iron, so as to catch the sunshine. The roots of both 
go inside and out, so as to make certain of feeding 
material. Where they are wholly inside, and this 
applies to Vines also, it is often difficult to know when 
a deluging of water is necessary or not, while if the 
drainage is imperfect, rotting of the fibrous roots is 
almost a certainty. The sheet anchor Vine here is 
the Black Hamburgh, with Buckland Sweetwater, 
Alicante, and Gros Cohnar for succession. All carried 
a fair, though not exhaustive, crop this season. One 
of the most successful Vines is the very fine flavoured 
Black Muscat of Alexandria'which Mr. Gray finds to 
succeed best worked as here on Black Hamburgh 
stock. As elsewhere, the stock of Pears is much under 
the average, there being very few exceptions. As in 
other localities, the drought was telling on the Veget¬ 
able department, and water was not in plenty even for 
drawing ; but this has been a standing difficulty over 
the British Isles for months. The oldest inhabitant 
cannot remember a drier season. Into the Vegetable 
garden or out the visitor can go by means of either 
of four large, ornamental gilded gates. We left 
on the southern, and found ourselves in one of 
the flower gardens. This is terraced, and each is 
reached by handsome rows of steps on each side, 
extending the whole length of the garden wall. 
Bedding-out- is still maintained, but with a very 
desirable blen din g of the more showy perennials, of 
which Lady Louisa Tighe is a pronounced patroness. 
There are four terraced gardens here extremely 
brilliant. The beds are edged with Box, which is 
kept tidy, and brings out the design forcibly, between 
the beds being handsome gravel walks of brownish 
quartz. . On the eastern side are some very curious 
designs in succulents and foliage plants, and further, 
on a raised mound with star-shaped beds and walks, 
a curiosity of the place being walks of blue pieces of 
flint .— William J. Murphy, in the Irish Farm, Forest, 
and Garden. 
Peachrs. — R. S. —Many thanks for your letter. We are 
pleased to hear of your success in cultivating this fruit. 
Fumigating Orchids.—A Wright— Your question shall 
receive attention in our next. 
‘•Semper Vita.” — E. J. Peek. —If you will send us a leaf 
we will endeavour to get the plant identified for you. It is 
impossible to do it without. 
Axis.— J. B .—Ammonia water obtained from gas-works or 
boiling water poured into their haunts is an effectual means 
of destruction for these pests. Another speedy method of 
destroying them is to pour a small quantity of paraffin into 
the holes and places infested by them. They may also be 
caught in tea-cups (placed in their haunts) half filled with a 
mixture of brown sugar and warm water, sufficiently thick to 
prevent them from getting out when once in. 
Heaths.— Jasper.—If the present delightful weather con¬ 
tinues the plants maybe left out a little longer, but you should 
have the house thoroughly cleaned ready to receive them, and 
get them under cover as soon as cold damp weather comes on. 
Liquid Manure. — Tab. —Perhaps the most useful and 
the easiest made, in your case, is that made of sheeu 
droppings and soot. Put a peck of the droppings and a few 
handfuls of soot into a tub, fill up with water, and well stir 
the mixture. When it has settled down it will be ready for 
use, but must be diluted before applying it to the plants. 
Weak and often is the golden rule to follow in the case of all 
stimulants. 
Potato, Recorder. — Chas. Jones. —It is a seedling be¬ 
tween Success and Woodstock Kidney, and we think Mr. 
Dean raised it, but are not quite certain. 
Weed Killer. — J. Long . —We think the article you want 
must be that manufactured by Mr. Mark Smith, Chemist, 
Louth. We have no experience of it ourselves, but have heard 
good opinions expressed as to its efficacy. 
Scotch Fir Seed.— Planter. —One pound by weight 
contains about 40,000 seeds. 
Grapes. — Vitis. —The rule for proportioning the crop to 
the size of the Vine proposed by Mr. Clement Hoare in his 
book on “The Tine,” is as follows:—If the stem of the Tine, 
measured just above the ground, be 3 in. in circumference, it 
may bear 5 lb. weight of grapes ; 3i in., 10 lb.; 4 in., 15 lb.; 
41 in. 20 lb. j 5 in. 25 lb.; [and so 5 lb. additional for every 
half inch of increased circumference. 
Crickets. — Under Gardener. —Mix arsenic with roasted 
Apple or Potato, and leave it on a sheet of paper during the 
night; the crickets will partake of it, and be destroyed. Or, 
place treacle in a saucer, to the thickness of about half an 
inch; the insects will get stuck fast in the treacle, and must 
be picked out daily. 
Commuxicatioxs have been received, with thanks, from 
A. H. P. Q. L. P. B .— M. T. M. — P. W. B. —W. Ashworth— ■ 
G. B. — Cymro —J. W. —A. B. 
— a— —- 
Trade Catalogues Received. 
James Veitch & Sons, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.— 
Hyacinths and other Bulbous Roots. 
George Phippex, 108, Broad Street, Reading.—Dutch 
Bulbs. 
Alfred Peel & Sons, M ood Green, N.—Price lists of 
Greenhouses, &c. 
—- 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
The Editor legs to inform, his readers that 
special attention will be paid, in the columns of 
The Gardening World, to the answering of Questions 
on all subjects connected with pyractical horticulture, in 
which department he will have the assistance of several 
gardeners of great experience and known ability. To 
save time, however, as far as possible, correspondents 
are specially requested to write only on one side of the 
paper; to write their questions in as few words as 
possible consistent with clearness; and where two or 
more questions are asked on widely different subjects, to be 
good enough to put them on separate pieces of paper. 
It is also particularly requested that correspondents 
will favour us with their communications as early in 
the week as possible, and that they address them only to 
“ The Editor.” 
Correspondents who may require their communica¬ 
tions, if not accepted, to be retu-med, must in all cases 
enclose stamps for the return postage. The name and 
address of every writer must be given, not necessarily 
for publication, if that is not desired, but simply as a 
guarantee of the writer’s bona fides. No notice what- 
will be taken of anonymous letters. 
Secretaries of Horticultural Societies and Nursery¬ 
men and Seedsmen will greatly oblige The Editor by 
senaing him their Schedules and Catalogues as soon as 
published. 
September 25th. 
Messrs. Hurst & Sox, of 152, Houndsditeh, and 
39, Seed Market, Mark Lane, report that the demand.for 
Trifolium has now fallen off, and that stocks are well 
cleared out. Winter Tares continue firm; but Eye, 
owing to a slow demand, is easier. Mustard remains 
unchanged, and Bape is steady, with small offerings. 
Hemp and Millet are unchanged. Blue Peas are in 
fair request at last week’s quotations. Supplies of 
new clovers continue small. 
COYENT GARDEN MARKET, 
September 25th. 
Fruit.—Average Wholesale Prices. 
$. d. s. d. 
Apples, 4-sieve. 16-40 
Pigs, per dozen . 0 6-09 
Grapes, per lb. 0 6 - 2 6 
Kent Filberts and 
Cobbs, per 100 lb. 50 0-60 0 
s. d. s. d. 
Melons, each. 0 6-16 
Pine-apples, Eng., lb. 4 0-50 
Peaches, per dozen... 3 0-80 
Pears, French, p. doz. 16-26 
Vegetables.—Average Retail Prices. 
Artichokes, Globe,per 
dozen . 2 0- 4 0 
Beans, French, lb. ... 0 4- ... 
Beet, per dozen . 2 0-30 
Cabbages, per dozen 2 0 - ... 
Carrots, per bunch... 0 8 - ... 
Cauliflowers, English, 
dozen . 3 0-40 
Celery, per bundle ... 1 6-26 
Cucumbers, each ...0 6-0 8 
Endive, French, per 
dozen . 2 6 - 3 6 
Garlic, per lh. 0 6- 
Herhs, per hunch ... 0 2 - 0 4 
Horse Radish, bundle 3 0-40 
s. d. s. d. 
Lettuces, Cabbage, 
per dozen-. . l 6 - ... 
— Cos, each . 0 2- ... 
Marrows, each. 0 3 - 
M i n t, green, bunch... 0 4 - ... 
Mushrooms, p. basket 10-20 
Onions, per bunch ... 0 6 - ... 
Parsley, per bunch... 0 8 - ... 
Radishes, per dozen... 1 6 - ... 
Small salading, per 
punnet ... o 4 - ... 
Spinach, per strike... 2 0 - ... 
Tomatos, per lb. 0 9- ... 
Turnips, hunch . 0 S- ... 
Potatoes.— Kent Regents, 80s. to 100 s. per ton; Kent kidneys 
80s. to 100 s. per ton; Champions, 70s. per ton. 
Cur Flowers.— 
* . (X. u. 
Abutilon, 12 bunches 2 0-40 
Asters, 12 bunches ...3 0-6 0 
Bourvardias, per bun. 0 9-10 
Carnations, 12 blooms 0 6-10 
Chrysanthemums, 12 
bunches . 3 0- 6 0 
— large, 12 blooms ... 2 0-60 
Co rnflower, 12 bun.... 2 0-40 
Dahlias, 12 bunches 3 0-60 
Eucharis, per dozen 26-5 0 
Gardenias, 12 blms. S 0 - 6 0 
Gladiolus, various, 12 
spikes . 10-30 
Heliotropes, 12sp. ... 0 6 - 1 0 
Lapageria, white, 12 
blooms. 2 0-30 
— red, 12 blooms. 10-20 
Plants in Pots—Aver 
s. d. s. d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, per 
dozen . 6 0-24 0 
Asters, per dozen ...3 0-6 0 
Begonias, per dozen 4 0-12 0 
Bouvardias, dozen... 9 0-18 0 
Chrysanth., dozen ...4 0-6 0 
Cockscombs, dozen 2 6-40 
Coleus, various, doz. 2 0-40 
Cyperus, per dozen 3 0-90 
Draciena term. doz. 30 0-60 0 
— viridis, per dozen 12 0-24 0 
Evergreens, in var., 
per“dozen . 6 0-24 0 
Whoxesaxe Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Lavender, 12 bun. ...6 0-8 0 
Marguerites, 12 bun. 3 0-60 
Pelargoniums, per 12 
sprays. 06-1 0 
Pinks, various, 12 
bunches .- ... 
Primula, double bun. 10-16 
Pyrethrum, 12 bun. 2 0-60 
Roses, out-door, 12 
bunches . 6 0- 9 0 
Roses, indoors, p. doz. 10-30 
Stephanotis, 12 * spr. 4 0-60 
Sweet Peas, 12 bun. 16-40 
Sweet Sultan, 12 bun. 2 0-40 
Tuberoses, per dozen 0 6-10 
White Jasmine, bun. 0 C— 1 0 
,ge Wholesale Prices. 
s. d. s. d. 
Ferns, in var., dozen 4 0-1S 0 
Ficus elastics, each... 16-70 
Foliage Plants, vari¬ 
ous, each . 2 0-10 0 
Fusehias, per dozen 3 0-60 
Heliotrope, dozen ...3 0-6 0 
Lilium,various.p.doz. 9 0-24 0 
Marguerites, per doz. 8 0-12 0 
Palms in variety, each 2 6-21 0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet 
per dozen . 2 0 - 6 0 
Petunias, per dozen 3 0-60 
Solanums, dozen. 9 0-15 0 
CONTEN TS. 
Adders in theWild Garden 51 
Agapanthus L'mbellatus... 54 
Amateur’s Garden, the ... £6 
„ Does it Pay ? 56 
Am ateur, What is an? "... £6 
Anemones . 51 
Apples trees, Dwarfed ... 56 
Autumn Crocuses . 59 
Blue Gum tree, the . 51 
Bulbs for Amateurs. 53 
Carnations, Border . 51 
Cattleya elegans . 60 
Celery . 59 
Chanty Lauds . 56 
Colchicums. 5 s 
Cyclamens, hardy. 53 
Daffodils, imperial, illus¬ 
trated . 53 
Dictionary of Gardening 55 
Ferns, choice.. 55 
Flowers . 53 
Fruit Cultivation, hardy 5-1 
Fruit, on Gathering.. 55 
Fruits . 5 s 
at the Health Ex¬ 
hibition. 53 
Fuchsia triphylla.. 52 
Gardening Miscellany..’ 52 
Geraniums, a few good ... 56 
Gladiolus, culture of . 58 
Horse Chestnuts flowering 52 
Iresine, a new . 58 
Judging at Flower Snows 55 
Lobelia pumila magnifies 60 
Manure, quality of animal 55 
Marguerites.. 59 
Nerine Fothergilli . 58 
Oncidium Lanceanum ... 60 
Orchid Growers’ Calendar 60 
Orchid Notes . 60 
Orchids at Kew. 60 
Pepinia aphelandne flora 59 
Peristeria elata . 60 
Periwinkle, the. 56 
Plant culture in moss. 52 
Pomegranates . 59 
Potato Shows. 51 
Potato statistics. 59 
Potatos, rough-skinned ... 61 
Royal Horticultural So¬ 
ciety’s Committees ... 51 
Staging for Orchid-houses GO 
Vanda Cathcarti . £0 
Vegetables . £9 
,, at the Health 
Exhibition . 59 
Weather and the Fruit 
crops . 52 
W oodstock, Kilkenny . 63 
